I have no formal training in writing or composition. As a person ages, many of us realize what benefit could have been ours if we would have availed ourselves of learning at the time it was available to us. It is, however, of little value to mourn the ship that has already sailed. Having missed the boat to an obvious destination sometimes necessitates a serendipitous journey on a lesser craft. With the uncertainty come adventures and experiences that the larger vessels, with their tactically-established itinerary, would not provide.
Perhaps the element most difficult to understand in the reward of Christian servitude is the joy of purpose.
I read two accounts. Each account was authored by a young lady. One in her late twenties and the other in her early thirties. One in an affluent setting, while the other one lived in a developing world country.
The young lady in the affluent setting had contracted a malady that left her with physical, nearly unbearable pain. Medical attention and knowledge failed. She felt her life was impacted to a point where there was no advantage to living. She wrote an account of the journey leading to this decision. She stressed that she had been denied the joy of her youth. The sporadic and severe pain she experienced had hindered her ability to attend college, along with benefits associated with this pursuit. So, with thought and deliberation she had consulted with the medical world and, apparently, with her family. At her family’s request, she had agreed to “live” till her next birthday, after which she had an appointment made to utilize medically-assisted death.
The testimonial of the other younger lady is “I have been physically handicapped since a young child. I live with respiratory equipment and an inability to walk. My dream is to never stop striving to achieve…I live happily, and thank God every day for allowing me to be here.”
Before we come to hasty judgement, let’s remember that God loves each of these young ladies alike. Both show a strong will. Both have been given a gift. Both of them preach a sermon. Both may well impact others to adjust their own approach when they hear the life stories of these two individuals.
To conclude my thought-challenge today, let’s think of happiness and joy. Although synonyms, interchangeable by adding an adverb or adjective, they are different.
For today, think of happiness as a bubbling, energizing stream. As Action in process. Think of joy as the deep pool enroute on the happy stream’s journey. Think of joy as a meditative spot, a place for cooling off on a hot day. A refreshing drink. A spot of silence where we can listen to what the Creator has in mind for us.
